Frances Smith

It is not often you come across a daguerrotype depicting four generations. This one is especially fine considering the importance of the women photographed.

Starting on the right, we have Judith Winsor Hathaway (1778-1881). The story goes that Judith was such a lovely young woman that the painter/doctor, Rufus Hathaway, fell in love with her at first sight. Next to Judith is her daughter, Polly Hathaway McLauthlin (1796-1879). Polly was married to Lewis McLauthlin, the groundskeeper of Ezra “King Caesar” Weston’s estate. Next is Judith Winsor McLauthlin Smith (1821-1921). She was married to shipbuilder, Sylvanus Smith. Judith was active in political and social causes throughout her life. She was an abolitionist and a suffragette. In 1920, at the age of 100, she was able to cast her first vote. Finally, on the left we have Frances Smith (1849-1916). Like her mother, Frances was a reformer and spent her life working in Boston as a social worker and for many charitable organizations.